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http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107190700126090K

Breedon Aggregates (BREE) has been granted access to an additional 12 million tonnes of rock deposits at its quarry in Shropshire, bringing total reserves at the site to 20 million tonnes and extending the life of the project to 25 years. Furthermore, the company added that it has been granted permission to increase production at the site to 750,000 tonnes per annum

Evolution Securities (EVG) retained a "buy" recommendation from Peel Hunt, with a target price of 86p. The broker notes that the financial services firm's subsidiary, Williams de Broe, is in talks to acquire BNP Paribas Investment Management, and, with free cash of 40 million pounds, believes there is a strong possibility the move would succeed. Peel also states that the group's main source of earnings comes from its wealth management division, which the broker forecasts will make up 52% of revenues in the financial year ended 2011

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107190700096116K

Cineworld (CINE) kept its "buy" rating from Panmure Gordon, with a 260p target price, following a robust trading period. The broker notes that the final Harry Potter film generated record sales in its first weekend and believes this should give a strong boost to Cineworld's performance. Panmure also draws attention to what it considers a low price to earnings ratio of 10.1x with an attractive yield of 5.9%.

Evolution Securities reiterated its "sell" rating for Eastern Platinum (ELR) and has lowered the target price to 49p, from 53p. The mining company has struggled in the first half of the year, with safety related stops in the first quarter and strikes at its Crocodile River mine in South Africa during the second, which the broker anticipates will lead to the business reporting another loss on 15th August. The broker notes that the firm's output of platinum group metals is down 33% for the second quarter from last year's comparable period and down 19% from first quarter results

Brewin Dolphin maintained its "add" recommendation for Instem Life Science Systems (INS), with a 12 month target price of 260p. The broker is encouraged by the technology company's contract win, worth an estimated 1 million dollars (0.62 million pounds), to provide Battelle with its Provantis software. Additionally, the company's takeover of BioWisdom in March has been integrated successfully and Brewin expects up to two further acquisitions in the next 12 months

Commenting on the KPI's, Playtech's Chief Executive, Mor Weizer, said: "It has been a very positive quarter for Playtech, continuing a solid start to 2011 and included both the finalisation of Videobet's UK roll-out and the completion of the PTTS acquisition." "Major licensee wins were announced, including the significant win of COPA in California; and today we have also announced the signing of a significant contract with Gala Coral to provide its online technology platform across all channels. We were first in the market to launch casino and cash poker tables in Italy this week, including SNAI and SISAL as well as other existing and new licensees, and welcomed both William Hill Online and Titan into the Italian network." "In addition, we have positioned ourselves to offer a platform for the rapidly growing mobile sportsbook segment, through the acquisition of Mobenga announced today. This is a strategic acquisition given the importance of mobile and the accelerated penetration rates of mobile." "These developments reflect the success of our ongoing investment in the business and many months of intense preparatory work. Each is set to enhance our future regulated market income stream and the licensee pipeline remains strong across the product range. We would expect to announce further wins in the coming months." "Revenues and player activity have grown throughout the quarter and while we are moving into what is traditionally the quietest seasonal period, we are pleased with Playtech's core business and the newly acquired PTTS, which has shown good resilience and is performing in line with our expectations."

Financial highlights On a like-for-like basis excluding France: § Total revenues up 19% on Q2/10 and 8% higher than Q1/11 § Casino revenues up 24% on Q2/10 to €27.3 million; and 7% higher than Q1/11 § Poker revenues down 24% on Q2/10 to €5.0 million; and 12% lower than Q1/11 On an absolute basis: § Total revenues up 7% to €39.6 million (Q2/10: €36.8 million), and 8% higher than Q1/11 § Bingo revenues totalled €3.6 million, up 32% on Q2/10, (Q2/10: €2.8 million); and up 5% on Q1/11 § Videobet revenues achieved material level for the first time, and generated €2.0 million in Q2/11, mainly from the rollout of its Global Draw contract Figures for Gross Income and share of profit from William Hill Online will be available once William Hill PLC announces its interim results on 5 August 2011.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107200700116940K

Some very positive and company enhancing news here this morning

Playtech's CEO, Mor Weizer said: "Recent developments in mobile gaming are increasingly important in driving player acquisition and delivering demonstrable revenue streams. Sportsbetting has always been the core product for many operators - one which creates different cross selling opportunities to other gaming products. This deal will position Playtech as the leading mobile gaming provider to take best advantage of the growth in mobile gaming and to integrate sportsbetting alongside its existing mobile casino, poker and bingo offerings providing the operators the ability to offer a complete multi-product mobile gaming solution." "The Mobenga team has successfully developed and rapidly deployed a flexible solution which is highly regarded by many of the industry's largest operators and are growing their licensee base strongly. By integrating such a proven and sophisticated mobile platform into our offering, and gaining access to the excellent skills and know how of the Mobenga team, we continue our strategy of positioning Playtech as the preeminent independent software provider. We are delighted to welcome Mobenga into the Playtech family." Christian Rajter, founder and CEO of Mobenga, added: "I am very excited by the opportunities this deal brings. It will help us take Mobenga to the next level and gives us exposure to the widest possible group of potential licensees. It underpins the future growth of the business and we look forward to being part of the Playtech team and contributing to the development of a leading mobile capability integrated into the market's leading gaming platform."

Playtech acquires leading mobile platform developer Mobenga Playtech, (AIM:PTEC) the leading provider of software and services to the online, mobile and land-based gaming sector, today announces it has entered into an agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital of Mobenga AB (Mobenga). Mobenga is the leading provider of mobile sportsbook betting platform and has a fast growing base of customers, including major brands such as PaddyPower, Unibet, Skybet, Stan James, and Nordicbet. The consideration for the acquisition comprises an initial amount of approximately €8 million subject to final working capital adjustments, and further consideration based on a 6x multiple of the profit before tax of the business in 2013, capped at €15.8 million. The initial amount has been financed from Playtech's existing cash resources. Mobenga has developed a market-leading mobile solution delivering a sportsbetting offering on to handheld devices, including smart phones and tablets, across Apple iOS, Android and HTML. This provides a fully customised and highly flexible offering allowing an operator to properly reflect its brand through the design, look and feel of its mobile channel, complementing its online offering. The solution offers operators a range of features such as a touch user interface (TUI) and advanced functionality, including live video streaming which is fully integrated with its existing platform. For Playtech, the acquisition brings highly regarded technology in a segment viewed as being a key contributor to future growth in online gaming. It will also facilitate the integration with other mobile gaming offerings such as casino or games, positioning Playtech as the market leading mobile gaming provider across a broad range of products. Mobile is delivering an increasing share of new customers to sportsbetting, with a number of major operators reporting that more than 30% of their recent sports customers are betting through mobile devices. Lifetime values of players active on mobile have been higher than those playing solely online, with a greater proportion of in-play betting and higher average bet sizes. Founded at the end of 2005, Mobenga won the prestigious "Rising Star of the Year" award at the recent eGaming Review B2B awards in 2011. With the continued growth in the customer base in 2011 it achieved profitability in Q2 2011 and on the current run rate is expected to be profitable for the full year.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107200700246945K

Playtech's CEO, Mor Weizer said: "This is an important deal for Playtech and we are delighted to be working with Gala Coral which is a leading gaming operator across a broad range of products in the land-based and online market places." "The strengthening of our relationship also sees a significant opportunity for both companies as Playtech's powerful IMS becomes the sole management and back office technology platform for a major operator, including for third party products. The ability to manage and optimise players' activities across all products has great benefits as it allows Gala Coral to address players' needs and maximise its performance at the same time. This deal recognises our platform's technological leadership and we are confident it will provide Gala Coral with the player management tools and functionality to drive its entire online business." Gala Coral's Group CEO, Carl Leaver, commented: "Gala Coral already enjoys a strong working relationship with Playtech and this deal will help drive our next phase of growth. Playtech's software is market leading and, together with Gala Coral's strong brands, will underpin our future success."

Playtech signs long term Gala Coral contract Playtech Limited, (AIM:PTEC) the international software and content provider to the online and land-based gaming industry, is pleased to announce that it has signed a significant, long-term software contract with major international gaming group, Gala Coral, to provide its leading technology platform and gaming products to Gala Coral for its online gaming businesses. Gala Coral has a substantial online gambling business which includes a major presence in the UK bingo market as well as casino, poker, live casino and sports betting. It has an international online presence through the Eurobet brand, which is also regulated in Italy. In the UK and Italy, Gala Coral is a substantial land based operator with more than 2,000 betting shops, together with 142 bingo clubs and 27 casinos. Playtech will provide a full range of gaming products, in addition to its cutting-edge IMS gaming management platform which will be utilised across all products available to Gala Coral players, to provide full player management, player retention and back-office tools. This is a unique offering that will allow Gala Coral to enjoy advanced management tools across all areas of its business. The platform will support Gala Coral's entire product range, including sportsbetting, and it is expected that the migration from existing suppliers to the Playtech platform and products will commence in the first half of 2012. Gala Coral is an existing licensee of Playtech through its GTS games platform and operates over 6,500 gaming terminals which utilise Videobet software. As part of the agreement Gala Bingo will migrate to Virtue Fusion, which will result in the Virtue Fusion network further cementing its position as the industry's largest bingo network.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107200700176956K

FDA ADVISORY COMMITTEE MAKES RECOMMENDATION ON INVESTIGATIONAL COMPOUND DAPAGLIFLOZIN AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today reported the outcome of the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee meeting on the New Drug Application for the investigational compound dapagliflozin. On the question: "Do the efficacy and safety data provide substantial evidence to support approval of dapagliflozin as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus?", the Advisory Committee voted 6 yes and 9 no. Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca remain committed to the dapagliflozin clinical development programme and will continue to work closely with the FDA to support the review of this investigational compound. Dapagliflozin is under joint development by Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca. Dapagliflozin is being investigated as monotherapy in addition to diet and exercise, and in combination with other anti-diabetic agents in addition to diet and exercise, to evaluate its effect on blood sugar levels (or HbA1c) in adults with type 2 diabetes. Dapagliflozin, an inhibitor of SGLT2, a target in the kidney, would potentially be the first in a new class of insulin-independent, oral type 2 diabetes agents. The FDA Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee based its voting on a review of data from the comprehensive dapagliflozin global clinical development programme included as part of the FDA New Drug Application submission. This submission included data of up to two years in duration and involved approximately 6,000 individuals in 40 clinical studies. The trials were designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy (as measured by HbA1c) of dapagliflozin in the approximately 4,200 patients who received dapagliflozin and were at various stages of the continuum of type 2 diabetes. In accordance with FDA guidelines, the New Drug Application also included data assessing the cardiovascular safety of dapagliflozin in adults with type 2 diabetes. The FDA is not bound by the Advisory Committee's recommendation but takes its advice into consideration when reviewing New Drug Applications. The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date for dapagliflozin is 28 October 2011.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201107200700127112K

Jens Montanana, Chief Executive Officer said: "Our global diversity and broad business mix have continued to enable us to grow revenues and improve margins, in line with our expectations, despite varying economic conditions around the world. South America and Asia remain Datatec's strongest performing markets."